New Provinces in Pakistan: What Does Constitution Say?
News Desk
Islamabad: The debate over creating new provinces in Pakistan has once again gained momentum, with discussions intensifying after recent statements from government officials and the circulation of an unverified map on social media showing a possible division of the country into multiple administrative units.
The idea of creating new provinces is not new in Pakistan. The issue has been raised several times in political and public discussions, with supporters arguing that smaller administrative units can improve governance and bring government services closer to citizens.
Opponents, however, believe the focus should be on strengthening existing institutions, particularly local governments, instead of creating more provinces.
The latest debate was revived after Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that the current system of governance has failed and that political parties should come together to discuss the creation of new administrative units.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Naqvi said reforms were necessary to improve the country’s situation and suggested that new administrative structures could be part of the solution.
Following his remarks, several political figures supported the idea. Federal Minister and Stability Pakistan Party President Abdul Aleem Khan argued that each province should be divided into smaller administrative units to improve public access to government services.
In a statement on social media platform X, Aleem Khan said citizens often have to travel hundreds of kilometers to reach provincial capitals for official matters. According to him, creating smaller administrative units could help resolve people’s problems at their doorstep.
Similarly, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik supported the idea, suggesting that Punjab could have four to five provinces, Sindh three to four, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa three, while Balochistan, despite being the largest province by area, could also be divided into smaller units.
However, he emphasized that public opinion would be an important factor in any such decision.
Viral Map Sparks Debate
Amid these discussions, a map showing Pakistan divided into 18 administrative units went viral on social media. The map shows Punjab divided into six units, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into four each, and Sindh into three proposed provinces, while Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan appear as separate regions.
However, the map has not been officially endorsed by any government institution and remains an unverified proposal circulating online.
The idea has received mixed reactions from political parties. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has historically supported the creation of a South Punjab province but has opposed demands for dividing Sindh.
Meanwhile, some parties, including the PML-N, have supported the creation of a Hazara province in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while the Awami National Party (ANP) strongly opposes the proposal.
Federal Minister Khawaja Asif has also supported the creation of new administrative units but stressed that such decisions should not be based on language or ethnicity. He suggested that national interest should remain the primary consideration and even proposed bringing Karachi and Gwadar under federal administration.
Governance vs New Provinces
The debate has also sparked discussion among citizens and experts about whether new provinces would actually solve Pakistan’s governance challenges.
Some social media users argue that smaller provinces could improve healthcare, education and public services by bringing administration closer to people. Others question whether creating new provinces would address deeper issues such as corruption, lack of merit and weak governance systems.
Some experts believe the real solution lies in empowering local governments rather than increasing the number of provinces.
Journalist Naimat Khan recalled that during discussions on new provinces, several senior journalists had emphasized strengthening local government systems instead. They argued that a strong local administration could deliver better results without creating additional political structures.
Former senator Mushahid Hussain also criticized the proposal, calling it an ineffective solution. According to him, Pakistan’s main issue is not the number of provinces but poor governance. He argued that merit-based appointments, better institutions and transferring authority to local governments could address many of the country’s challenges.
What Does Pakistan’s Constitution Say?
The Constitution of Pakistan does provide a mechanism for creating new provinces or changing the boundaries of existing provinces, but the process requires major constitutional steps.
Under Article 239 of the Constitution, any change in the boundaries of a province requires a constitutional amendment. Such an amendment must be passed by a two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and the Senate.
Additionally, if a proposed change affects the limits of any province, it must also be approved by the provincial assembly of the affected province with a two-thirds majority.
This means that creating new provinces is not only a political decision but also requires broad parliamentary and provincial consensus.
As the debate continues, the central question remains: Will creating new provinces improve governance and public services, or should Pakistan focus on strengthening the existing administrative system first?
The answer may depend not only on political will but also on whether all stakeholders can agree on a practical path forward.
